Microsoft's Paying for Used iPads
Microsoft's latest attempt to garner interest in its Surface hybrid tablet-PCs is a trade-in program the company launched that will let customers swap out their iPads for a $200 gift card applicable toward a Surface.
Actually the $200 gift card can be used toward anything offered in the Microsoft Store but Microsoft is obviously trying to get people to trade in their iPads for a Surface RT or Surface Pro.
The company quietly kicked off the deal last week but word of it started to spread in recent days. The offer runs through Oct. 27, though I'd bet it will remain permanent – unless it turns out that's the date the new Surfaces are available.
Nevertheless, I'm curious how many pe ople will actually take Microsoft up on this trade-in offer. Most people I know love their iPads and have no desire to get rid of them. Also the oldest unit Microsoft will take is the iPad 2. In most cases you can get more for it selling it on eBay or elsewhere than trading it into the Microsoft Store.
Perhaps if your device is broken it's a good deal. While the fine print didn't say the device must work, it did say it's up to the store manager's discretion.
But the move underscores the increasingly aggressive posture Microsoft is taking toward Apple -- following an ad campaign showing Siri explaining everything an iPad can't do that users can perform on a Surface.
Still, I'll be surprised if many people take Microsoft up on its latest offer. Will you?
Posted by Jeffrey Schwartz on 09/13/2013 at 1:37 PM